Leipzig-Real Madrid: Champions League last 16 gets underway

The Whites visit the RB Arena tonight for the first leg of the tie (9pm CET).

Leipzig-Real Madrid: Champions League last 16 gets underway
NEWS.Alberto Navarro

The Champions League returns after a two-month absence, and Real Madrid are back in action in the last 16 against Leipzig. The knockout stage is all or nothing for the Whites, who after finishing first and with a 100% record in the group stage, play the first leg of the tie tonight at the RB Arena (9pm CET).

This will be the second consecutive campaign in which the two sides have faced each other (last season they met in the Group Stage) and their aim this time around is to try to gain an advantage for the return leg, which will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu on 6 March, the day on which our club celebrates its 122nd anniversary.

Watch all the videos from this match on RM Play

“The Champions League is back, and it’s a competition we really like and the team is excited and motivated,” said Ancelotti in the press conference ahead of the clash.  The Italian has named his squad for the game which does not include Bellingham or Rüdiger, as they will not travel to Germany along with their other injured teammates. Toni Kroos has been named in the squad and the German analysed the night ahead of Champions League action in his homeland: “The good part is starting and the good part is always more difficult.”

Leipzig
Marco Rose's side go into the game on the back of a draw away to Augsburg (2-2) in the Bundesliga and are a tough team to beat on home soil. Indeed, they have lost just three of their 14 games played, with nine wins and two draws to their name. Belgian striker Lois Openda is their top scorer with 19 goals: 15 in the league and 4 in the Champions League.